Harriet Kemsley to host the Independent Podcast Awards 2025

The Independent Podcast Awards team has today revealed that the host for this year’s event is the award-winning podcaster, comedian, writer and actor, Harriet Kemsley.

Described by The Guardian as the breakout contestant on Last One Laughing, Harriet has also been a recurring guest on many hit TV shows including 8 Out Of 10 Ten Cats Does Countdown, Hypothetical and Guessable, and has also starred on Live At The Apollo.

The awards are taking place at Kings Place in the heart of Kings Cross in London on Wednesday 15th October. The shortlist was unveiled this month, and features 129 different podcasts across 27 categories. The overall Independent Podcast of the Year will also be crowned on the night, which is chosen from the winners of the other genre-based categories, which in 2024 was won by It’s a Continent.

Harriet Kemsley said: “I’m excited to be the host of this year’s awards as it will be a nice break between recording podcasts. I love podcasts, I support podcasts and I hope this evening will be recorded and ultimately made into a podcast.”

Emma Turner from the Independent Podcast Awards team said: “We’re so delighted to have Harriet on board as this year’s host. It’s always a really fun night, and a big celebration of indie creators that don’t always get the recognition they deserve, despite the work that goes into making these amazing shows. Our judges had their work cut out for them once again deciding on this year’s shortlists and winners, and we’re looking forward to revealing them on the night.”

The full awards shortlist can be found here: https://independentpodcastawards.com/IPA25/en/page/our-2025-shortlist

Tickets for the event cost £49 per person, and can be booked directly through the Kings Place box office here: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/words/independent-podcast-awards-2025/